Movies
Planet Marathi announces Marathi-Hollywood title ‘Chhatrapati Tararani’
Mumbai: Akshay Bardapurkar’s Planet Marathi and Piiyush Singh’s Golden Ratio Films have collaborated with UK-based independent production house Black Hangar Studios for a first-ever Marathi-Hollywood film “Moghul Mardini Chhatrapati Tararani.” Directed by Rahul Jadhav, the film will be produced in Marathi and English and it will feature Sonalee Kulkarni in the lead role. The makers are planning a Diwali 2022 release in India and overseas.
Based on the life of the warrior queen Chhatrapati Tararani who fought against the Mughals, Nizamshahi, Aadilshahi, Qutubshahi, Dutch, British, Portuguese, and Siddis, the story of the greatness of Maratha women, Marathi pride, and Swarajya, said the statement.
“Chhatrapati Tararani is going to be a golden page in the history of Marathi cinema. Planet Marathi and Golden Ratio are proud to take the story of the Maratha warrior queen to the world. This will be the first and one of the biggest Marathi-Hollywood films to go on floors with an international film studio,” said Planet Marathi CMD Akshay Bardapurkar. “It is too soon to reveal more details about the film but we have a talented blend of filmmakers, musicians, and artists that are working hard to bring this beautiful presentation to our Marathi audiences. I strongly believe this film has the potential to take Marathi cinema at a newer height,” he added.
Black Hangar Studios has to its credit Hollywood productions such as “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” “Dark Tide,” “The Grand Tour,” and “24: Live Another Day,” as well as the Indian superhero film “Ra.One,” released in 2011. “After working with the Indian Sci-fi genre we are excited to create the experience for a historical period drama,” stated Black Hangar Studios CEO Jake Seal. “The story itself moves us and with the promise that Planet Marathi brings in filmmaking we are thrilled to see where this journey leads us. We aim to make films more engaging for global audiences irrespective of the language and medium and we are committed to making this story come alive.”
“We are excited for the first-ever Marathi Hollywood historical film which will definitely be the most awaited one for 2022. The title itself comes with a huge responsibility to us and the entire team is working to bring out the best for the viewers,” commented Golden Ratio Films co-founder Piiyush Singh.
Hindi
Jio Studios, Sanjay Dutt team up to revive Khal Nayak
Rights acquired for new version, format under wraps as remake plans take shape.
MUMBAI: The villain is back and this time, he’s rewriting his own script. Jio Studios has partnered with Three Dimension Motion Pictures and Aspect Entertainment to revive the 1993 cult classic Khal Nayak, marking a fresh chapter for one of Bollywood’s most iconic anti-hero stories. The original film, directed by Subhash Ghai under Mukta Arts, was a commercial and cultural milestone, with Sanjay Dutt’s portrayal of Ballu becoming one of Hindi cinema’s most memorable performances.
Dutt, along with Aksha Kamboj, has now acquired the rights from the original creators, bringing on board Jio Studios and its President Jyoti Deshpande to steer the project creatively.
While the exact format whether remake, sequel, prequel, or a completely new narrative remains undisclosed, the collaboration aims to reinterpret the story for contemporary audiences while retaining the essence that made the original a defining film of the 1990s.
The move taps into a broader industry trend of reviving legacy intellectual property, particularly characters with strong recall value. “Khal Nayak” was notable for pushing mainstream Hindi cinema into morally grey territory at a time when heroes were largely one-dimensional, making Ballu’s character a standout.
The project also marks the film production debut of Aspect Entertainment, signalling a push towards more technology-led storytelling frameworks. Meanwhile, Jio Studios continues to expand its slate, having built a library of over 200 films and series, with more than 60 titles collectively winning 500-plus awards.
For Dutt, the revival is as much personal as it is strategic, a return to a role that reshaped his career. For the industry, it is another sign that nostalgia, when paired with scale, remains a powerful box-office proposition.
Because in Bollywood, some villains never fade, they just wait for the perfect comeback.
